CLOSING TEAKS. 443 



satisfied, always doing and undoing, has unfortunately given but 

 little to the world : and it is to be feared the grave will close over 

 this remarkable man, leaving no other trace of his rare mind and 

 delightful nature than that which friendship hallows in its breast. 

 The last visit Dr. Blair paid to his friend, their time was exclusively 

 devoted to the study of Milton, and the result of these hours finds 

 noble record in the " Dies Boreales." The subject is approached 

 with a reverence such as ever marks a spirit willing to bow before 

 a great power. The inner purpose of the poet's soul claims the 

 critic's every thought, and he advances with well-ordered steps 

 from the beautiful portals, opened by invocation to the muse, into 

 the heart of the splendid structure, leading his reader with unri- 

 valled skill into lofty chambers of thought and imagery. 



It is now time to speak of those days in which the sand was run- 

 ning quickly down in the glass. A change which the eye of affec- 

 tion is not always the first to mark, could not, however, be con- 

 cealed from his family. In the winter of 1850, symptoms of break- 

 ing up of health obliged the Professor, for the first time, to absent 

 himself from Colleire duties. I have received an account of one 

 particular illness, the exact statement of which did not, at the time 

 it took place, come from his lips. Indeed, as his health decidedly 

 weakened, so did he in proportion try to rise above it. The same 

 interest in his work which kindled his energies in early years, 

 glowed with unabated ardor in old age. I give it as it was sent 

 to me :* — 



" One day Professor Wilson was late in appearing ; perhaps ten 

 or twelve minutes after the class hour — an unusual thing with him, 

 for he was punctual. We had seen him go into his private room. 

 We got uneasy, and at last it was proposed that I should go in, and 

 see what it was that detained him. To my latest hour I will re- 

 member the sight I saw on entering. Having knocked and received 

 no answer, I gently opened the door, and there I found the Profes- 

 sor lying at full length on the floor, with his gown on. Instinctively 

 I rubbed his head and raised it up, kneeling with the noble head 

 resting on my breast. I could not, of course, move. But in a few 

 minutes in came other students, wondering in turn what was keep- 

 ing me, and we together raised the Professor up into his chair. I 

 caught the words ' God bless you !' Gradually he got better, and 



* By tlie Rev. A. B. Grosart, Kinross. 



